Further talks on Irish Rail strike expected on Thursday

Talks aimed at averting a strike by Iarnród Éireann staff are expected to continue on Thursday.

Train drivers represented by Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union are due to hold a second three-hour work stoppage in recent weeks between 6am and 9am on Friday. They are involved in a dispute with management over payment for past productivity.

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe on Wednesday welcomed the involvement of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC)in the talks.

“There has been significant engagement in recent weeks, through the WRC, to resolve this issue and to have threatened strike action at Irish Rail called off,” he said in a statement.

In anticipation of Friday’s work stoppage proceeding as planned, Iarnród Éireann has issued guidance to intending rail passengers. It said rail services departing prior to 6am were expected to operate as normal until they reached their destination.

The company said all Intercity, Dart and Commuter services scheduled to depart between 6am and 9am were cancelled and that there would be knock-on disruption to services after 9am.

The company cautioned that these arrangements were subject to change.

Customers who have already booked to travel between 6am and 9am can use these tickets on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Alternatively they can submit their ticket for a full refund.

Iarnród Éireann chief executive David Franks on Monday wrote directly to drivers saying he was “disappointed” the unions would not put the company’s proposals to a ballot of workers.

The company’s proposals, outlined in the letter to drivers, include an increase in earnings through “productivity allowances” of 7.9 to 8.3 per cent and a voluntary redundancy scheme.

“The demands for an even greater share of the productivity savings and a reduction in the working week as tabled by the unions is unaffordable. This is not a negotiating tactic. It is a fact,” his letter said.

“We do not think it is appropriate to create false expectations and have been consistently clear that we must generate verifiable cost savings to fund any improvement in earnings.”

Mr O’Leary said the attempt to undermine the unions in their representation of workers was counterproductive.

“Our members are furious at this intervention and see it as an insult to a workforce that have fully co-operated in improving the rail network in this country over the last decade. The only reasonable way of getting a resolution here is for all stakeholders to fully engage on all of the issues, attempting to disenfranchise workers’ representatives is bringing a distasteful element to this dispute.”

Siptu representative Paul Cullen said the management had “completely dismissed” the unions’ proposals and so there was nothing on which to ballot workers.

“At this point in time I cannot see anything that could prevent Friday going ahead.”